Collin Barnes (left) on South Oval of University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus a day or two before his first date with his wife, Meghan (right). 

 

SONG: 

“The Vampyre of Time and Memory” by Queens of the Stone Age (2013)

Josh Homme wrote this song after a routine knee surgery that very nearly killed him — twice. First from complications during surgery and then from a depression that followed. “I want God to come, and take me home, because I’m all alone in this crowd.” Maybe you’ve felt that way. Even if you haven’t, the song is unforgettable. Watch the video for the full effect.

BOOK: 

“The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind” by Mark Noll (1994)

Read this as an undergraduate. Lots of classmates went on mission trips in the summer. I never did, just read books and worked factory jobs. Felt like less of a Christian because of it. This book helped me see that you don’t have to be a pastor or missionary to be a believer. I’m sure that seems obvious around here, but it wasn’t where I came from.

MOVIE: 

“Army of Darkness” (1992)

Medieval aesthetic. Great one-liners. Absurd storyline. Features the Necronomicon. Hero’s name is Ash. Has a chainsaw for a hand. Monsters die. Damsel in distress gets saved. There’s time travel. Sam Raimi directed. What more could you want?